Shame on Representative Cliff Stearns and shame on each and every one of the
representatives who voted to make compensation for 9/11 first responders reliant
upon a check for "terrorist" activities. Shame is a concept that blankets
American actions as it responded to that grave day. I won't belabor the many
instances where this nation either killed or maimed others either in retribution
or in the pretense at keeping the rest of us "safe" but I will say
that this last act of betrayal by elected officials places all of us in greater
danger. Frankly, if we don't counter this betrayal, we deserve what we get.

What has come over us? Have we completely lost the ability to function as compassionate
adults in an imperfect world? Think for one minute about the ramifications of
such an act:

On 9/11/2001 when many people fled the horror of the scene at Ground Zero,
countless firefighters, police officers, and brave civilian volunteers rushed
to the scene to help. I believe that my own daughter who was on that day four
or five months pregnant was almost home free precisely because others helped
her almost, almost to safety. How many others walked away because they were
provided help? We can only guess at the numbers. How many families of first
responders are like my own -- ten years out still suffering the effects of PTSD?
We will never be whole again.

And now, before the government hands over fair compensation, compensation provided
ten years post what would have been considered justice, this final slap. You
must prove you were not a perpetrator of the horror in order to get what you
justly deserve at the very minimum. Had these folks asked the same of their
own government prior to that day, more would have died.

Imagine that this is the message we send to future people with an impulse toward
compassion. Imagine what we teach our future generations about the value of
service.

Those in need of this compensation may indeed be living less than stellar lives.
They may be terrorists. They may be criminals. They may be serial killers, perverts,
child abusers, pick your demon. Who the hell are you? There may indeed be abuses
of any system. This will not prevent those abuses. This is a rhetorical move
to once again pad political careers by keeping the citizenry at war. Shame on
all of you.

On that day America needed the help of our first responders. On that day and
for months after, they provided that help at great cost to their own futures.
To be sure we will need the help of others again. In a world so stingy with
trust, compassion and dignity, we surely will have much more violence and next
time, they may think twice.

We throw the term hero at sports figures. We deny that stature to those who
really serve. I am ashamed that you think you represent me.

9/11 Responders To Be Warned They Will Be Screened By FBI's Terrorism
Watch List

WASHINGTON -- A provision in the new 9/11 health bill may be adding insult
to injury for people who fell sick after their service in the aftermath of the
2001 Al Qaeda attacks, The Huffington Post has learned.

The tens of thousands of cops, firefighters, construction workers and others
who survived the worst terrorist assault in U.S. history and risked their lives
in its wake will soon be informed that their names must be run through the FBI's
terrorism watch list, according to a letter obtained by HuffPost.

Any of the responders who are not compared to the database of suspected terrorists
would be barred from getting treatment for the numerous, worsening ailments
that the James Zadroga 9/11 Health And Compensation Law was passed to address.

It's a requirement that was tacked onto the law during the bitter debates
over it last year.

The letter from Dr. John Howard, director of the National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health, informs medical providers and administrators that they should
begin letting patients know before the new program kicks in this July.

"It's comical at best, and I think it's an insult to everyone
who worked on The Pile and is sick and suffering from 9/11," said John
Feal, a former construction worker who lost half a foot at Ground Zero and runs
the advocacy group Fealgood Foundation.
Advertisement

Sept. 11 responders in the committee room at the time mostly shook their heads
at the move, which Democrats accepted on a voice vote after battling to bar
other amendments on abortion and immigration that might have killed the bill.

But suddenly the point is no longer just a strategic concession to get a law
passed.

As doctors and administrators begin acting on the federal instructions, participants
in the 9/11 treatment and monitoring programs will soon be told that their names,
places of birth, addresses, government ID numbers and other personal data will
be provided to the FBI to ensure they are not terrorists.

Howard's instructions include a sample letter to responders designed to minimize
alarm.

"Although neither we nor [the Centers for Disease Control]/NIOSH anticipate
the name of any individual in the current Programs will be on the list, CDC/NIOSH
is expressly required by law to implement this particular requirement of the
Act," it says.

"Thank you for your understanding. We look forward to working with you
and ensuring that you continue to receive uninterrupted services under the new
WTC Health Program," it concludes.

Feal, who counts hundreds of first responders in his foundation's membership,
predicted the letters would not go over well.

"When cops and firefighters get this at home, they're going to
hit the roof," he said.

Kline, who sits on the Fealgood Foundation's board, said he personally
wasn't offended, but couldn't think of a good reason for cops and
firefighters to be screened by the FBI in order to keep getting treatment.

"I mean, who are we even talking about -- the undocumented workers who
cleaned the office buildings?" wondered Kline Thursday. "We know
who all the cops, firefighters and construction workers were. They're
all documented.

"Is the idea that a terrorist stayed to help clean up? And then stayed
all these years to try and get benefits?" he asked. "In all the
things I've seen out of Washington, this probably takes the cake."

Some are more understanding.

"Do we want terrorists getting money? No," said Anthony Flammia,
a former NYPD Highway Patrol officer and Sept. 11 responder. "How do you
know if there were any terrorists there? Were they there as observers, watching?
Probably."

But he noted that his perspective likely would not be shared, especially if
people whose names are similar to actual terror suspects get flagged, as happens
with air travelers.

"I've got nothing to hide, so it's no big deal for me, but
there's got to be safeguards in place to protect the people who are innocent,"
Flammia said. "It's going to be controversial," he added.
"It's probably going to create an uproar, but I think it will dissipate.
I hope they're ready to answer people's questions."

Congressman Stearns said in a statement that his intent was to answer exactly
the questions raised by Flammia.

"This amendment was adopted in the full Energy and Commerce Committee
without opposition and it merely requires that the names of those receiving
health benefits be cross-checked with the terrorist watch list to ensure that
no terrorists get these benefits," Stearns said.

"These benefits are not just for our first responders; nearly anyone
who was in the vicinity or worked on a cleanup crew afterward is eligible,"
he noted.

The prohibition is included in two parts of the bill. One specifically covers
responders, while the other deals with all survivors, including office workers,
bystanders and residents.

Feal acknowledged that the terrorist screening has to be done because it is
the law, and that the letters have to go out.

But he holds Stearns responsible, as well as several other Republicans who
were hostile to the 9/11 bill, and tried to tack all manner of amendments onto
it.

"I think Congressman Stearns is stabbing at pettiness. He's a buffoon,"
Feal said. "We get sicker and die, and they're going to disseminate
a letter wondering whether we're terrorists or not. ... I think everybody
needs to start showing a little more compassion."

represent me.

Disclaimer
The views expressed in this article are the sole
responsibility of the author, who is solely responsible for its content,
and do not necessarily reflect those of 911Truth.org. 911Truth.org will
not be responsible or liable for any inaccurate or incorrect statements
contained in this article.

Fair Use Notice
This page contains copyrighted material, the use of which has not always
been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such
material available in our efforts to advance understanding of political
issues relating to alternative views of the 9/11 events, etc. We believe
this constitutes a "fair use" of any such copyrighted material as provided
for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17
U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit
to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included
information for research and educational purposes. For more information go
to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use
copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond
"fair use", you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.